Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-11-24
THEDONATION PARTY.
The Widow Bryne's Thanksgiving
Box and What 1t Did.

UE W6tkS DOlOlllS udu OtoII ldIh6u vi
in N but the donation party" to be
held Thanksgiving eve at the M. E.
church. The osteDsible purpose OF This
benevolent scheme was to raise money
WIFI which to repair the parsonage
rhe pastor, however. being young and
unmarried. it Was agreed that the usual
donations of clothing, victuals, ETC.,
should be given to the aged Rev. Boyd,
who with his wife resided III N, and
was known to be in straitened circum>
stances.
Que of the leading spirits in this en-
terprise and one who f1aJtered herself
that the main responsibility of this au>
spicious occasion rested upon herself,
was the vivacioue Widow Bryne. True,
some malicious persons might whisper
that her zeal IN church affairs only dated
from the time when young Silas Warne
catbe down To take charge OF the parish
and captivated every one with his hand
-som& face, easy style and agreeable
manners.
Sense be come Savirry Bryne hain't
missed sermon, said Mrs. Bent with
a scornful cnuckle; fore that when old
Mr.. Boyd preached she want hardly ev-
er seen to church, but now one'd think
she owned the church, the minister an
all. TO hear her 90 on; tho my thinkin'
she'll never fool the minister into mar
ryin' HERr
But for such unfriendly gossip the
widow cared nothing. Mrs. Bent and
her 'set,' and their talk did not affect her
peace of mind at all. She con6ded 20
her particular friend. Squire Haygoods
wife, the fact that she had provided for
the donation box of eatables and other
gifts that were c,-.culated to carry off
the palm over anything else likely TO be
brought out. Mrs. Haygo0d casually
mentioned this TO another friend. this
IIIeno to another, until it was generally
known that Mrs. Bryne's donations were
10 be The finest at the church. A com
mittee had been appoin ed TO teke charge
of the donations, another to decorate The
church, aud each found something that
needed the rector's advice or attention.
until the young man was heartily sick
of the subject and wished dozen times
a day that it was over. His COUSIN, d
rollicking, good natured young mpdiral
student came down To pay him a visit
lew days hefr:e Thanksgiving, and III
bis society SIias became more cheerful
and less inclined to think the donation
and the Widow Bryne nuisance.
How many Invitations do tDu think
L have received to Thanksgivi dinner,
Will ? asked SilaS one morning. &, they
sat together in the study.
oh, five or six, may be- answered
Will, that is if you are as pnputAr as
you ought to be-
/ think can satisfy you as to my
popularity answered Silas, producing
from his pocket, to bis cousins amaze
msa, no less than fifteen separate invi-
-sg-uns to eat dinner at as many differ
-Et places.
We'll. well, you are in luck laughed
Viii. 1 say. old boy. there's but one
way out of this awful dilemms you are
in bere; get married, nay dear fellow or
else fill an early grave. So much atten-
tiOn will kill, slowly and surely, as the
novels say, and then think of eating
fifteen Thanksgiving dinners in ore day
If you don't do it they'd be offended at
you. just contemplate that prospect,
and then if your mind can grapple such
an appalling calamity just look ahead
10 Christmas and New Year. No use,
old boy. better marry the charming
old mean young widow and be done
with it; better die of cankerIng sorrow
than of dyspepsia. l say
oh hush, Will, some one may hear
you cried his cousin, laughing III spite
OF himself.
But tell you what. ST. began Will,
then stopped short. Look at that girl
he exclaimed, directing Silas attention |
TO slender, i'll clad girl OF fourteen,
who was on her knees picking something
from ihe icy pavement,
1t is Dora Humphreys answered the |
minister, his manner suddenly tecom
ing thoughtful. Il believe l will speak |
to her moment he added, rising and |
tossing The numerous invitations upon |
the table.
That's right echoed Will. Don't go
out TO talk to poor child like that with
your pockets bulging out with nice little
notes from the dear ladies who are dy>
ing 20 have yoT come and sit at their
fesuve boards and gorge yourself on
their dainties.
Silis paid no heed to his badinage, but
Opeaing the door passed out to where
the girl still knelt. Silas now saw a
few grains of rice on the sidewalk,
where she had accidentally spilled them.
Good morning, Dora, said the minis
ter in his pleasant voice.
Good mOrnin', sir, answered Dora.
getting up and securing her package
more firmly. But she did not smile or
lose the hard look in her blue eyes as